The New England Patriots received tough news ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as cornerback Christian Gonzalez was officially ruled out with a lingering hamstring injury.

First reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the setback forced the Patriots to reshuffle their secondary just a day before kickoff.

Gonzalez had been a standout since his rookie season, but with Jonathan Jones, Marco Wilson, and Marcus Jones now expected to take on larger roles, the defense faces a critical test.

Head coach Mike Vrabel’s unit has been among the league’s best in passing defense, but losing its top cover man raises questions about depth in a must-win AFC clash.

Against that backdrop, New England also celebrated its history. Bill Parcells, one of the most transformative fi

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